Moving the Blog

You may have noted that I haven't posted in quite some time. One of the reasons for this is the fact that I have been moving the blog to a new address (with a lot of assistance from Mike Wittig) . The transfer isn't complete, but you can check out the new site here. Feel free to give me your critique, and I will let you know when the blog is fully functional.

True & Better

True & Better from Peter Artemenko on Vimeo.

What Do You Think of This Quote?

One of our staff members at Bethel shared the quote below today. I'd like to hear your response.

We need to have kids that can be sent off to the most hostile universities, toil in the greediest work environments, and raise their families in the most hedonistic communities and yet not be in the least bit intimidated by their surroundings. Furthermore, they need to be engaged in the lives of people in their culture, gracefully representing Christ's love inside those desperate surroundings. - Dr. Tim Kimmel

Greatest Valedictorian Speech Ever?

The Case for Life

In my opinion there are few current issues more important than the fight for the unborn. The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture is a new book on the issue that is getting rave reviews. Watch the video promo for the book below. You can purchase it here.

Scott Klusendorf - "The Case for Life" Trailer from Crossway on Vimeo.

How Important is the Bible?

John Piper: "How Important is the Bible?" - Lausanne 2010 from Crossway on Vimeo.

Don't Wait for Leaders to Come Along

John Kotter:

Successful organizations don’t wait for leaders to come along. They actively seek out people with leadership potential and expose them to career experiences designed to develop that potential.

(HT: Matt Perman)

Worship God by Serving the Poor

Steve Sjogren writes in this article that we can worship God by serving the poor, and provides 12 practical steps for doing so.

TGC 11 Workshop Audio

Get the audio of all workshops here.

Should You Make Your Kids Go to Church?

In recent months I have heard from a few parents that were upset or disappointed in the fact that we had moved our Sunday morning Student Ministry to Sunday night (we did this primarily because many of our students weren't attending the corporate worship services and we do not believe this to be good for their long-term spiritual health). One of the reasons some of the parents were upset is because they couldn't get their children to come to church if there wasn't something specifically for their age group. Now, there are lot's of things I could say about this myself, but today I came across a post from Michael Kelley that answers the question well and saves me the trouble.

In short, the answer is an emphatic 'yes'. Be the parent, and make them go. Here are the reasons why.

I'm Tired....

This is somewhat of a rant. OK, there's no somewhat to it. It's a full-on rant. But I don't do it often (actually almost never). And I think it needs to be said.

Late this evening I made a trip to a local pharmacy to pick up a couple of prescriptions. I had to travel a little ways because as I found that there are few pharmacies open past 6 pm on Sunday evenings.

Anyways, as I walked through the store waiting for the prescriptions to get filled, I naturally came across the magazine rack. And while I knew what was there, for some reason this time I became very agitated in my spirit. If you don't understand why, let me explain: I'm tired; really, really tired of the exploitation of women in our culture. I'm tired of the media that promotes it, I'm tired of those who consume it (myself included), and I'm even tired of the women who willingly allow themselves to be exploited. 

And I think its time for Christians to do something about it. It's time for Christian men to refuse to consume it. Whether its the SI Swimsuit Issue, the beer commercials, the TV shows with the subtle sexuality, or simply viewing the magazine covers in the checkout line, it's time for us make a Jeremiah-like covenant (Jer. 31:1) and refuse to look at anything that might cause lust to sprout in our hearts. It's time for us to stop contributing the the exploitation.

And Christian ladies, it's time for you to stop consuming it as well. It's time to stop evaluating yourself based upon what some magazine, model, TV, or commercial says that you should look like. It's time to quit measuring your worth based upon your weight, your bust size, the complexion of your skin, or by what you are wearing or not wearing. It's time to find your worth based upon the fact that you were created in God's image and that he made you beautiful, just the way you are. It's also time to start helping your brothers out by being counter-cultural in how you dress so that men have a safe place in the church where they aren't bombarded by the same temptations they are everywhere else.

Let me say two more things before I am finished. First, let me explain why I'm tired. I'm tired because of the devastation that this issue is causing to men, women, and families. As a pastor at a large church there is hardly a day that goes by that I don't see the profound implications of our culture's obsession with sex and so-called 'beauty'. It's destroying marriages, families, and ultimately our culture as a whole.

Finally, let me end on a positive note. Thankfully, there is hope in the Gospel, which tells us that in Christ we can do all things (Phil. 4:13). This includes fighting sensuality and the temptation to find our joy in anything other than our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Sensuality feels good for a moment, but it only leads to guilt and pain. But through the power of Christ in us, we can say learn to say"no" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, godly lives today (Titus 2:11). And when we do, we will receive the blessings that come from purity, and be a counter-cultural witness to what Christ has done in and for us.

Transforming Communities by Transforming Public Schools

This morning I received a voice mail from the assistant superintendent of my children's school district asking me to consider participating in a committee that would be addressing the discipline process for our local high school. I don't know the details yet, but it could be an interesting and important opportunity.

Then I woke up this morning and found this article about the movement of some churches and Christians to engage their communities through the public school system.

Here's the point: we all bemoan the status of our public school systems, but are we willing to do something about it? And more to the point, our public schools are the very heart of our communities; if we want to be salt and light, they are a great place to start.

Parenting 001

Here is a really, really good post by Kevin DeYoung on parenting. I don't really have anything to add because he completely nails in on the head. Take 5 minutes to read this, you will be encouraged and challenged all at the same time.

Some Good News in the Fight for Life in Indiana

A US District Judge has ruled against a temporary injunction in the Indiana Planned Parenthood case. Read about it here.

Doing Justice

If a person has grasped the meaning of God’s grace in his heart, he will do justice. If he doesn’t live justly, then he may say with his lips that he is grateful for God’s grace, but in his heart he is far from him. If he doesn’t care for the poor, it reveals that at best he doesn’t understand the grace he has experienced, and at worst he has not really encountered the saving mercy of God. Grace should make you just. – Tim Keller

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1 (ESV)

Check out how this is true here.

The Royal Wedding

I won't be paying any attention to the Royal Wedding. Someone on my Twitter feed aptly put it this way: Since when is the wedding of an unemployed college grad living on government aid and living at grandmas "breaking news?"

Nevertheless, I know that many of are interested, so here are some good thoughts from Mike Cosper on the big event.

China says population rises to 1.339 Billion

The population in China grew by almost 80 million in the last decade, and doesn't seem to be showing any signs of slowing. What does this mean for the church, when hundreds  of millions of unreached people (and growing) are without the Gospel?

40 Positive Reasons to Avoid Porn

Daniel Henderson shares 40 Positive Reasons to Avoid Porn:

1. I fully enjoy the pleasure of my love relationship with Christ.

2. I fulfill my true identity as a child of God.

3. I experience God's provision of empowering grace.

4. I enjoy my freedom in Christ to its fullest.

5. I avoid a life-pattern of deception.

6. I cultivate a soft and sensitive conscience.

7. I turn away from the solicitation of harlots in my heart.

8. I refuse the temptation of idolatry.

9. I prove to be a faithful steward of my money.

10. I prove to be a faithful steward of my time.

11. I abstain from any promotion and support of the pornography industry.

12. I preserve God’s gift of loving sexual expression for its intended purpose.

13. I protect the purity and power of my God-given imagination.

14. I develop disciplined character.

15. I guard the integrity of my Christian testimony.

16. I promote health and harmony in the body of Christ.

17. I cultivate a stronger resistance to future interpersonal sexual sin.

18. I nurture the proper biblical view of the sanctity of womanhood.

19. I relate to women as equals and persons of ultimate worth.

20. I learn to live in reality rather than fantasy.

21. I steer clear of unnecessary personal guilt and shame.

22. I cultivate a lifestyle of contentment and satisfaction.

23. I experience the blessing of living as a servant

24. I learn the relational skills of authentic intimacy.

25. I avoid future mental, emotional and spiritual scars on my life.

26. I experience the joy of the Christian life.

27. I lay up eternal rewards.

28. I learn to deal with the causes of my problems rather than treating symptoms.

29. I prevent potential temptations for others in my sphere of influence.

30. I honor the trust and prayer support of those who have invested in my spiritual life.

If I am married:

31. I avoid adultery in my heart.

32. I encourage my wife's trust.

33. I honor my vow of marital purity and faithfulness.

34. I keep my marriage union pure from fantasies of other women.

35. I communicate acceptance and honor toward my wife.

36. I avoid the pathway that could easily result in infidelity.

If I have children:

37. I minimize the risk of my children being exposed to pornography.

38. I model strong and genuine moral values for my children.

39. I avoid embarrassing and embittering my children.

40. I encourage all of the above positive qualities in their lives.

Read the whole thing here.

TGC11 Plenary Sessions

All of the Gospel Coalition's 2011 plenary sessions are now available on video here.